Although the sign says, “Order, Sit, Eat” I pretty much encourage customers to sit first, if they like. And, if they do, I give them a small version of the menu which they can study if they like. It is not infrequent that customers will write on this menu. They will circle what they want, etc. And, as long as this menu is not ruined we use it over and over again so the next customers are left with the doodles of the previous customers.

This sort of behaviour should be encouraged.

As of this morning, the small menu is printed on two sides. I am encouraging customers to leave notes or drawings for one another (or for me and the staff). Tell the next person what your favourite menu item is. Tell me what we did wrong. Write a haiku. Draw a picture of a palm tree. Leave a joke. Do whatever you want. We will keep passing it along as long as the sheet lasts (it’s the bottom of water glasses that really does them in).

I will photograph and tweet them.

And, if this catches on, I will install a bulletin board so that the finest works can be maintained on site.

Just another idea that popped in to my head that I think will be fun. I think that dining is a very social experience – at home with family, out with friends, on a date, girls’ night out, or whatever. These menu doodles are simply my way of trying to extend the social experience of dining at The Flying Banzini beyond the edges of your table. And, like everything, it is passive. Nobody is forced to do anything. If you think it’s fun, write or draw. If you think it’s silly, ignore. You should be able to make The Flying Banzini experience into what you want it to be.

NO BLOG UNTIL JULY 23. My goal is to update this blog every Monday to Friday. But, I am taking a holiday. Three whole nights away. I am not back to real life until July 23 and so I will be skipping out on my blog duties on Monday and Tuesday.